Steel Bridge Road

No one expects to wake up deaf after an illness, but that's what happens to Jilly Bennett, a little girl from Arkansas. Her parents, Bobby and Miranda, and her grandparents, Keg and Joanne, are ordinary folks from Saline County, where horses are a way of life. The family rallies around Jilly in her time of need, making the necessary adjustments to assure her of a happy and productive life. But despite the strong family ties, trouble is brewing - personal turmoil that tests relationships and threatens to tear the sweet family apart.Spunky little Jilly leads us on an inspiring, emotionally-charged journey as she seeks independence and acceptance in a judgmental world. Her coming-of-age experiences will melt your heart, including her determination to attend public school and her unique ideas about love and romance. At the heart of the story is Jilly's companionship with an old, beaten-down horse called Rosemary, rescued from an abusive situation. And when Jilly befriends Edie Epperson, a neighbor with dementia who offers random inklings about her past, she is driven to start connecting the dots, all of which seem to lead back to Rosemary.Lynn Richardson tells the story in her easy-going, good-natured style, with the southern charm and spot-on humor that we've come to expect, complete with a delightful ending. Steel Bridge Road is a must-read for anyone who has ever loved a child, or a horse, or both.